Smut-machine



H. B. JAMES. Smut Machine.

I PatentediMay 17, 1844.

to many other machines.

UNITE. srarns PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. JAMES, OF MOUNT HOLLY, NEV JERSEY.

SMUT-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 3,588, dated May 17, 1844i To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. J AMns,of Mount Holly, in the county ofBurlington and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new anduseful machinefor cleaning wheat, rice, buckwheat, &c., removing smut. garlic, cheat,hulls, while caps, and all light trash, by rubbing or scouring andblowing, called the smut-machine; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and.

exact description of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of thisspecification, in which Figure 1 is a view of the machine. Fig. 2 isaview of the diagonal fans, in connection with the circular trunk andplate; Fig. 3, a view of the casing of the fans, all of which are inperspective. This casing consists of an inverted cone, (A. Fig. 1, andA, Fig. 8,) which should be slightly roughened on the inner surface (B,Fig. 3,). A curved dish (0,) with a hole in the center (1),) and abridge-tree for the support of the lower pivot of the shaft, is attachedto the bot-tom or small end of the cone, similar Within this casing. thefans, (A, A, Fig. 2,) revolve, consisting of plates arranged diagonallyupon the shaft (B, B,) in sets. A plate or dish (B, Fig. 1, and C, C,Fig. 2,) nearly encircled by a trunk or flute, (O, C, Fig. 1, representing the top D, D, Fig. 1, the sides, and D, D, Fig. 2, the openingunder the trunk,) covers the whole, the casing and head. each havingflanges, (E, Figs. 1, 2, and 3,) to unite them together. One end of thistrunk is higher than the other, and is boxed up at the sides and endsand also on the top, leaving a square holeabove, (F, Fig. 1,) aroundwhich is a collar where a flue must be placed, to convey the air andforeign matter from the machine. There is also a hopper (G, Fig. 1, andF, Fig. 2) over the trunk. The plates of the fans (Gr, Fig. 2, beingone) must all incline contrary to the top of the trunk, about at rightangles with it, and are caused to revolve with their upper surfaceforemost, by a whirl (H, Fig. 1,) which is placed upon the shaft of thefans above the disk. Thus they force up a strong current of air and alsoact upon the grain. The foreign matter is floated out, by the airmeeting it in the trunk and flue, from either of which the grain may befed in. If good grain should escape from above, it can be prevented bypartially closing either the flue or the aperture beneath the cylinder.The speed also can be regulated to suit. the different kinds of grain.

The distinguishing characteristics are chiefly in the trunk, and thecombined action ofthediagonal fans and conical cylinder, thus unitingthe advantages of the whole, although a: single set of diagonal.

plates would force a strong current of; air in the directlon of theshaft, yet it is. greatly. increased with two or more, arranged with theleaves of one set to break points with those above them, and without anyaddi tional surface in the fans; the circular trunk increasing the forceof the blast, and a peculiarfloating process takes place beneath it,carrying upward whatever may become ClQtElCllQfLfIOHlfllt-E grainby theaction of'the fans, as it descends by its gravity perfectly cleanwithout the necessity of winnowing it afterwards.

Construction-I make the conical casing for the fans, and the head ofcast iron, each with a flange about an inch and a half wide, the casingand the dish beneath in one casting, and the trunk and plate forming thehead, in one; I vary the size of the cylinder, say 15 by 18 inches indiameter, but some times larger and sometimes smaller, but mostly of aless size, the depth I make from 14 to 16 inches, with a dish beneathabout 3 inches deep with a hole in the center 5 or 6 inches in diameter,across which is placed the bridge-tree, of cast iron, with a steel step.The inner surface of the cylinder may be merely the natural roughness ofcast iron, or a coating of emery or some such substance, upon it, andthe fans also, is thought to be an advantage. I have sometimes madeangular or spiral ribs, incliningthein in the direction of the plates ofthe fans, but at a greater angle in order to cut or glance the graindownward but generally, very slight perpendicular grooves or flukes areused, which are rounded out of the cylinder, (as in Fig. 3 let: B, butthey should not project suflicient to cause the grain to glance up them.The leaves or plates of the fans are constructed generally of sheetiron, about the 16th of an inch thick, and are riveted to cast ironhubs, at an angle of from 10 to 25 degrees, and keyed to a common shaft,in sets. one above another, and arranged with the leaves of one set tobreak points with those above them. I generally have two steps, withfrom 4 to 6 plates on each; when revolving within the machine, theyshould clear about an inch each way, the aperture through the plate,over which the circular trunk or fluke is arranged, should correspond inthe largest diameter with the cylinder, about 2 thirds or 3 fourths ofthe circumference in length, and 3 or 4 incheswide. The highest endhaving a collar 4C or 5 inches square and 1 or 2 inches high, and is 5or 6 inches higher than the other end, andi larger than the trunkelsewhere. I sometimes place a plate 2 or 3 inches wide across, withinthe large end, inclining it toward the mouth, to assist in carrying upthe air &c.; a bridge-tree is attached to the trunk for the support ofthe upper journal of the shaft; the whirl or pulley for carrying a beltis about 4, 0r 5 inches in diameter.

Operation: The machine should be secured in its proper position in themill by its flange and surmounted by a flue to conduct the air andforeign matter from the machine. The gearing should be so arranged as togive it a speed of 1000 revolutions or more per minute, and to diminishit, or stop it entirely at pleasure, by slacking the belt-s.

The grain should be fed in either at the hopper or higher up in the flueif preferable in a steady current after being screened either by ashaking or a rolling screen. A hopper may be placed below to receive it,

or a screen wire bonnet and a tube to convey that the leaves of one tiershall break points with those above them, to act upon the grain 1ncombination with a stationary inverted cone, roughened on the innersurface'by v slight flutes or otherwise, and to produce a current of airthrough the machine as set forth.

HENRY B. JAMES. l/Vitnesses CHARLES SULRAN, JoI-IN VVATKINSON.

